Frankie Feighan
Question:
100. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of cross-border or shared island initiatives currently being progressed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25723/24]
View answer
The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
My Department continues to collaborate with our Northern Ireland counterparts on a number of cross-border and Shared Island initiatives. My Department is involved in managing and supporting a number of Shared Island initiatives which include:
• the Ulster Canal, a flagship North-South project, supported by the Shared Island Fund;
• the Narrow Water Bridge, another flagship North-South project and a longstanding Government commitment;
• the Shared Island Local Authority Development Fund, a scheme to generate feasibility studies for cross-border projects;
• the Cross-border Innovation Hub in Letterkenny, a physical space to nurture innovation;
• the Shared Island Invasive Species Initiative, a project which will prioritise areas of mutually beneficial cooperation to mitigate against the threat and impact of invasive species; and
• the EU-funded Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE Integrated Project, to develop lighthouse demonstration sites in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland to deliver peatland restoration, capacity building and learnings.
My Department is also involved in the following cross-border initiatives:
• PEACEPLUS, where my Department is working with colleagues in the Northern Ireland and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) to progress each investment area;
• the All-Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network (AICBRN), a network for researchers across the island of Ireland to undertake research in the climate and biodiversity field;
• the Discovery Programme – Centre for Archaeology and Innovation Ireland, a national archaeological research body establishing and directing research programmes;
• the World Heritage Royal Site Application, collaboration with Northern Ireland Department of Communities’ Historic Environment Division to progress the transboundary Royal Sites UNESCO application;
• the British Irish Council – Housing work sector, collaboration in the development of policies and interventions in areas such as design, supply and allocation of social housing and affordable housing challenges; and
• the engagement with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to explore through a research project the feasibility of an all-island approach to the provision of a network of transient sites.
In addition to this, my Department has two Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in place with the Department of Communities in Northern Ireland;
• the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Heritage and Climate Action, operational since 8 July 2021; and
• the Memorandum of Understanding on Ireland's Vernacular Built Heritage, operational since 25 January 2022.
Finally, my Department continues to participate in the operational engagement of aviation services with the UK Met Office.
